Easy Basted Eggs Recipe (2024)

Published: · Modified: by Mamma C · This post may contain affiliate links

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Try this Easy Basted Eggs Recipe for perfect results every time!In just over three minutes, you'll have delicious eggs with runny yolks and fully cooked whites.

Easy Basted Eggs Recipe (1)

Can we talk about eggs? I have to tell you, I can’t stand runny whites!

So, over-easy eggs don’t cut it for me. Thankfully, Mom taught me her method of basting eggs, and I’ve never looked back.

Because you know I’m all about that baste...

That's right. I’m here all night, folks.

But seriously, you need basted eggs in your life! Mom’s twist on them is easy, delicious and produces perfectly cooked eggs every time.

The yolks are cooked until they have a pinkish tint on top, but are still dippable. And the whites are fully cooked!

It's one of my favorite breakfasts.

You’re probably wondering, “what is a basted egg?” So, before we go any further, let’s get some background.

What does basting an egg mean?

A basted egg is a cross between fried and poached.

The traditional way to baste an egg is to cook it in butter as if you were making a fried egg, but then spoon the melted butter over the egg until it's done. That's a called a "butter-basted egg."

A steam-basted egg involves pouring water into the skillet with the egg and covering the pan to make steam. I tried that method, but it resulted in soggy egg whites (eww.)

Mom's method (and now mine) is a combination of the butter-basted and steam-basted methods. The eggs get cooked in melted butter over medium heat while covered with a lid ― ideally, a glass one to allow for viewing.

Let's call it a butter-steam-basted egg! It provides the best taste and texture.

How to baste an egg (Mom's way)

  1. Melt butter in a pan (affiliate link) over medium heat.
  2. Crack an egg into the pan and cover with a lid (preferably, a glass one so you can keep an eye on the yolk).
  3. Let the steam cook the egg until the surface of the yolk starts turning pale pink. Turn off the heat and serve!

How to serve basted eggs

You just need some toast for dipping in the delicious yolks. And wait until you try basted eggs with my guacamole on toast! I recommend toasting a sliced baguette or Italian bread.

You also could serve a basted egg over sausage and cheese in a breakfast sandwich. Or how about over rice and veggies, such as this Baked Vegetable Risotto?

Yum!

Frequently asked questions

Poached vs. Basted Eggs?

A poached egg is made by sliding a cracked egg into a simmering, water-filled pan and swirling it to keep the egg white neatly wrapped around the yolk. A basted egg is made by cracking the egg onto a prepared skillet and covering it with a lid so the steam cooks it.

Are basted eggs flipped?

No flipping is required. Just cook the egg in butter with a lid on the pan to create steam.

More breakfast recipes to try

If you love eggs, you have to try my Italian Sausage and Egg Casserole that can be made for breakfast, dinner or meal prep. Also, Mom’s Asparagus Frittata is one of the best things in life!You'll also love this Baked Arugula Frittata.

And for a decadent continental breakfast, don't miss this non-alcoholic zabaglione, made with egg yolks and sugar. Its custardy texture will have you swooning.

Easy Basted Eggs Recipe (4)

Enjoy!

If you try this Easy Basted Eggs Recipe, let me know how you liked it! Please leave a comment and a rating.

Easy Basted Eggs Recipe (5)

Easy Basted Eggs Recipe

Try this Easy Basted Eggs Recipe for perfect results every time!In just over three minutes, you'll have delicious eggs with runny yolks and fully cooked whites.

5 from 5 votes

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Course: Breakfast

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 1 minute minute

Cook Time: 3 minutes minutes

Total Time: 4 minutes minutes

Servings: 1

Calories: 198kcal

Author: Mamma C

Ingredients

Basted Eggs

  • 2 teaspoons salted butter (use 1 teaspoon per egg)
  • 2 eggs
  • pepper to taste
  • salt to taste

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • Make your eggs up to two at a time in a large skillet. (If only making one egg, an 8-inch skillet is fine.) Melt two teaspoons of butter in the pan over medium heat. Crack two eggs in the pan, trying not to crowd them. Place a lid, ideally a glass one, over the eggs. (See notes.)

  • As soon as the yolks get covered with a pinkish color, they are done. It should take around 3 minutes, so check on the eggs just before the 3-minute mark if you don't have a glass lid. Transfer each cooked egg onto your plate and pour the butter on top.

  • Add salt and pepper to the eggs, and serve with toast.

Video

Notes

If only making one egg, use one teaspoon of butter in an 8-inch skillet.

If you have a glass lid for your pan, use it. It will allow you to view the eggs while they're cooking and see when the surface of the yolks start to turn pink, which means they're done. Otherwise, you'll have to lift the lid to check on the eggs.

Nutrition

Calories: 198kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 349mg | Sodium: 196mg | Potassium: 124mg | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 725IU | Calcium: 52mg | Iron: 2mg

Tried this Recipe? Mention @cookingwithmammac or tag #CookingWithMammaC!

(Recipe Source: Cooking with Mamma C, using Mom’s basted eggs method. Originally published on January 11, 2016 and updated now with new photos and additional information.)

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Easy Basted Eggs Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the difference between poached and basted eggs? ›

To recap, a basted egg is cooked using hot butter or oil, plus water poured over the egg. A poached egg is cooked using a water and vinegar solution followed by simmering water — or just simmering water by itself.

Is basted egg same as sunny side up? ›

A basted egg is somewhere between a sunny side up fried egg and a poached egg. Basted eggs are fried on the bottom and steamed on top. They look similar to sunny side up eggs, but the yolk is slightly more set.

Should basted eggs be cooked over high heat? ›

Heat skillet over medium high heat. Egg whites set at 155 degrees while egg yolks begin setting around 145 degrees. This means that in order to get runny yolks but have set whites, you're going to want the pan just on the high side of medium.

Are over easy eggs the same as basted? ›

Over easy eggs, or eggs over easy, as they're sometimes called, are cooked in a pan until the white is set, and then flipped to cook the yolk side. Over easy eggs differ from basted eggs, because the top of the egg is cooked by flipping the egg, rather than cooking it with butter or oil.

Are poached eggs better than scrambled? ›

Overall, shorter and lower-heat cooking methods cause less cholesterol oxidation and help retain most of the egg's nutrients. For this reason, poached and boiled (either hard or soft) eggs may be the healthiest to eat. These cooking methods also don't add any unnecessary calories.

Do you put oil or butter before eggs? ›

Butter certainly works for fried eggs, but oil is the fat of choice for cooks who want a runny yolk with a satisfying crispy white. Extra-virgin olive oil is most popular, and yields a satisfyingly crunchy bottom that will soak up luscious flavor.

How many teaspoons of water do you use to baste an egg? ›

Step 2: Spray non-stick pan with cooking spray, and heat at medium high heat. Have a teaspoon of water ready. Step 3: Gently place eggs in heated pan. Step 4: Add the one teaspoon of water to the eggs, and place tightly fitted lid onto pan.

Do you put oil or butter in a pan for eggs? ›

Butter or Oil for Frying Eggs? You can cook an egg in either butter or oil; it's entirely up to your taste preference. If you like the taste of butter, then go for it. Olive oil is a healthy choice and also delicious, especially when you are topping a savory dish, such a ratatouille or pasta with an egg.

What is a fried egg with a broken yolk called? ›

Over hard or over well. Cooked on both sides all the way through, with the yolk broken (immediately after the egg is cracked). Sunny-side up. Cooked on one side only, until the egg white is set, but the yolk remains liquid.

What is a Lacy egg? ›

Lacy Eggs are delicious egg recipe which has crispy white and still creamy yellow. Perfect with some toasted bread and butter.

What is an egg with a runny yolk called? ›

Sunny side up: The egg is fried with the yolk up and is not flipped. Over easy: The egg is flipped and the yolk is still runny. Over medium: The egg is flipped and the yolk is only slightly runny. Over well: The egg is flipped and the yolk is cooked hard.

Are basted eggs healthy? ›

Basted eggs are a healthy and delicious way to prepare eggs. With the elegant look of poached eggs, basting eggs create a moist breakfast or brunch dish.

Can you cook an egg by pouring hot water over it? ›

Then you pour a kettle of hot water over the eggs, a method which allows you to pour around the yolks by concentrating the stream on the side of the pan. Cover for 5 minutes to set, then bring to a boil.

How do you tell if an egg is poached? ›

Cook until whites are just set but yolk is still very soft (lift out of water with a slotted spoon and gently press on yolk to check on doneness), about 2½ minutes from the time each egg hits the water.

Are poached eggs runny or hard? ›

Both tend to have a runny egg yolk, but the white itself will be fully cooked. Fried eggs tends to have a tougher, more-rubbery egg white than a poached egg has.

Why do poached eggs taste different? ›

The main difference between poached eggs and fried eggs with a runny yolk is that poached eggs don't have any butter or oil affecting the taste, and they can't get burned (or even browned), so you really just get the taste of the egg (sometimes a hint of vinegar if you add it to the water to help the whites set quicker ...

Why would you poach an egg? ›

A poached egg is an egg that has been cooked, outside the shell, by poaching (or sometimes steaming), as opposed to simmering or boiling. This method of preparation can yield more delicately cooked eggs than cooking at higher temperatures such as with boiling water. Poached eggs can be served in several dishes.

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